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12/1 Mercury sextile Neptune
   Uranus turns direct
   Venus enters Sagittarius
12/2 Full Moon in Gemini, 2:30 am
12/3 Uranus trine Ceres
12/4 Venus sextile Saturn
12/5 Mercury enters Capricorn
12/6 Neptune square Ceres
12/7 Mercury conjunct Pluto
   Jupiter conjunct Chiron
   Mercury square Saturn
12/10 Sun trine Mars
12/13 Sun sextile Chiron
12/14 Sun square Uranus
   Sun sextile Jupiter
12/15 Sun sextile Neptune
12/16 New Moon in Sagittarius 7:02 am
12/17 Venus trine Mars
12/19 Venus sextile Chiron
   Venus square Uranus
12/20 Mars turns retrograde
   Venus sextile Jupiter
12/21 Venus sextile Chiron
   Jupiter conjunct Chiron
   Sun enters Capricorn
12/24 Sun conjunct Pluto
   Venus sextile Neptune
12/25 Venus enters Capricorn
   Sun square Saturn
12/26 Mercury turns retrograde
12/28 Venus conjunct Pluto
12/29 Venus square Saturn
12/31 Full Moon in Cancer, 2:13 pm
   (lunar eclipse, Blue Moon)
   Saturn sextile Ceres

Eastern time zone, please adjust for your own locality.

The big news as December opens is the Full Moon in Gemini that occurs at 2:30 am EST on December 2. This lunar event is not as powerful as some we have had recently, but it is strongly oriented towards communication and adaptation. Not only is the Moon in Gemini, the sign that rules the processing of information, but Mercury, the information planet, is very strong at this time. Mercury is in a challenging square to Uranus, suggesting that our ideas and preconceptions about our world (Mercury) will be subject to a radical shift in perspective (Uranus). Mercury is also in a harmonious sextile to the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune which has been in force since early 2009 and continues to affect us. This harmonious aspect helps to soften the challenges of the Mercury/Uranus square (which can heighten anxiety in those who have a more tightly-wound nervous system), and helps to encourage healing (Chiron), creativity (Neptune), and a sense of faith, optimism and good will.

Saturn and Pluto are still in square formation as they will be through February of 2010, forcing the eruption into consciousness (Pluto) of the hard work that needs to be done in order to achieve certain goals and let go of tragedies from the past. The combination of Saturn and Pluto is a powerful one that forces us to face up to hard truths (Saturn) and let go of anything that is holding us back (Pluto) so that transformation can occur. Read more about this powerful cycle here.

The other big news for December is that Uranus turns direct on December 1 after being in retrograde motion since the summer. Planets don't really move backwards but occasionally from our perspective on Earth they appear to, and we call this "retrograde." When planets are traveling retrograde, their influence is more personal and can be somewhat inhibited. Uranus, as the planet of innovation and radical new ideas, is less able to implement those new ideas and the radical change for which it is famous when it travels retrograde. With Uranus changing direction and turning direct we are in for some surprises and reversals during the first week of December.

Venus (governing the way we relate to others), which has been in passionate Scorpio for the past few weeks, moves into lighthearted Sagittarius on December 1st which lightens up our relationships and is excellent for any kind of social engagement.

During the first week of December Jupiter (expansion and fulfillment) is approaching a conjunction to Chiron (wounding and healing) which will culminate on December 7. While Jupiter is a beneficent planet that brings good fortune and confidence, it also has a tendency to expand us in many different ways. In conjunction to Chiron, this expansion can open us up to the old wounds that Chiron comes to heal. Ultimately this is an extremely positive experience, but there may be some momentary pain during the week leading up to the exact aspect on December 7.

Uranus forms a harmonious trine to Ceres (nurturing and self-care) on December 3, so for a week before and several days after that time we are inspired (Uranus) to improve our relationship with ourself and our body (Ceres). We may be confused about how best to accomplish with Neptune square to Ceres at the same time (peaking on the 5th). This may result in illness or a lowered immune system that may last until the 10th or so. However, a harmonious sextile from Venus to Saturn (discipline) on December 4 will help us to embrace the concept of working hard (Saturn) in order to achieve the results in our relationships with others and with ourselves (Venus).

Mercury (information processing and the mind) has a busy few days between the 5th and the 7th. First, Mercury enters the disciplined and success-seeking sign of Capricorn on the 5th, making it easier for us to attend to mental matters that require focus and diligence. Then on the 7th Mercury interacts with both Saturn and Pluto (conjunct Pluto, square to Saturn). Pluto intensifies our thinking and potentially adds a compulsive or obsessive quality to our thoughts and expression. Saturn adds focus and discipline but also the potential for negative thinking and communication difficulties. These few days are better for writing, for which solitude is extremely beneficial and enables us to better use the power and strength of Pluto and Saturn. Conferences and negotiation require a sensitivity that will be lacking during this short period.

After these busy days full of mental activity and words, we have a few days of solar activity which help to energize us and focus on that which we need to enhance our own lives and well-being. The Sun represents the Self, so during solar periods the Self takes precedence. On the 10th a trine from the Sun to Mars (assertive energy) helps us to balance our priorities and strengthen our sense of purpose. On the 13th the Sun forms a sextile to Chiron (wounding and healing), inspiring us to embrace the healing process that is ongoing under the larger planetary cycles now. On the 14th a challenging square to Uranus forces us to question everything and rebel against constriction. A fortunate sextile of the Sun to Jupiter this same day softens the effects and creates an abundance of good feeling. Finally, a lovely sextile to Neptune on the 15th enhances intuition and creativity and extends our compassion beyond its usual range.

The New Moon in Sagittarius occurs at 7:02 am EST on the morning of December 16th. New Moons are times of new beginnings, and this New Moon offers the potential of a brand new understanding of what gives our life meaning. This is the realm that Sagittarius governs, and this New Moon also offers the potential for a radical shift in our understanding with a square to Uranus, planet of shock and awe. It is likely that under this influence we will need to adjust our awareness as the new levels of meaning begin to permeate our consciousness.

The New Moon (Sun/Moon conjunction) is in an exact sextile (harmonious aspect) to Neptune along with Jupiter and Chiron which offers an opportunity for greater spiritual awareness (Neptune), general good feeling and optimism (Jupiter) and wisdom (Chiron) if we are able to make the required adjustments in our patterns of belief.

The Saturn/Pluto square is embedded in this lunation (lunar event) as it will be in every lunar event for the next few months, adding a sense of the importance of every adjustment that we make now in the overall scheme of what is required from us. But a lovely trine from Venus to Mars helps to energize us and ensure success in our interactions with others.

Venus continues to be active for the next few days, interacting harmoniously (sextile) with the Triple Conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune, and facing off in a challenging square against Uranus. Venus transits are fleeting, but they are always relatively pleasant (even the stressful combinations). The Venus/Uranus combination on the 19th instills a desire for excitement and change, but the Uranian desire for freedom can make it difficult to honor our responsibilities to the people in our lives.

Still, the passage of Venus through the aspects to the Triple Conjunction will bring our attention back to the "call of the soul" that Chiron and Neptune evoke. Neptune enhances our desire to connect with the deepest part of ourselves, and Chiron brings wisdom and removes blockages in the form of undigested emotional material that needs to be processed and released. The addition of Jupiter expands the process for better or for worse, and between the 19th and the 24th of December Venus does her magic, aiding in the healing and smoothing of the connections between ourselves and the people around us.

Mars turns retrograde on the 20th. Mars has been in Leo since November 7 and because it will be retrograde back to zero degrees Leo before turning around to complete the Leo mission, it will remain in Leo until July of 2010. For more on Mars and this retrograde pattern please listen to the first part of my radio show on the subject here. Mars in Leo is motivated by finding one's self-expression, and when Mars turns retrograde there will be an opportunity to review and re-evaluate the creation that is our life. Retrograde Mars can make life more interesting since our desires and actions (Mars) must be processed through the filters of renewal in the retrograde process before they can actually manifest.

On the 21st, the Sun enters the earth-wise sign of Capricorn, illuminating the path to success and achievement of one's goals. Entering Capricorn, it begins to align with Pluto in a conjunction that culminates on the 24th and a square to Saturn on the 25th. As the Sun interacts with Saturn and Pluto, it brings to light any defects in our experience that need to be eliminated (Pluto). This is a short-lived but transformative experience which can be exhilarating, but the challenging square to Saturn suggests that the sense of restriction may overwhelm us for a few days.

Venus enters Capricorn on the 25th, repeating the alignments of the Sun to first conjunct Pluto on the 28th and then to square Saturn on the 29th. Venus helps to smooth out the rough edges of the past few days but encourages us to seek solitude. Relationships and interpersonal dealings of any kind (this includes business meetings and family get-togethers) will not be as beneficial during this period. This could be a challenge because of course the Christmas holiday coincides with this alignment, and the fissures in our relationships will make themselves known.

Mercury turns retrograde on the 26th and will remain retrograde until January 15, 2010. During Mercury retrograde periods, communication snafus are common and any contracts or decisions entered into during this time will likely need to be renegotiated or altered. It's generally best to refrain from making big purchases or signing contracts while Mercury is retrograde, but often these things are not in our control. If you do find that you have no choice, be as diligent as you can to ensure that every agreement is clear and in writing.

The Cancer Full Moon occurs on December 31st, just in time for New Year's Eve! This is a Blue Moon because it is the second Full Moon in the month, and it is a partial Lunar Eclipse, because the Moon is within 14 degrees of the Lunar Nodes (in this case it's 11 degrees, making this a partial, eclipse). Generally the partial eclipses do not carry the same astrological emphasis as a total eclipse, but this Full Moon will be made more powerful by the alignment of four planets in Capricorn, all opposing the Cancer Moon.

In the Full Moon there is always a tension between the polarity of the Moon (in this case Cancer) and the polarity of the Sun (Capricorn here). The Cancer/Capricorn polarity deals with the tension between the inner (Cancer) and outer (Capricorn) worlds; that which is ruled by feelings (Cancer), and that which is ruled by structure and that which is expected of us (Capricorn).

During this Cancer Full Moon, finding balance won't be easy but it will be important. Saturn, the Celestial Taskmaster and teacher of solitude, is in a challenging square to both the Sun and the Moon, as well as to Venus, reminding us that although this can be a very social time of year, the real work is done within.

What a great way to prepare for the New Year!